Chapter 3
Mr. Merlin came back in to talk to us. "Well I think we should get started. Chris, would you like to go first?"
"Sure!" Chris replied.
Mr. Merlin shooed Sam and I out of the room and told us to come back in an hour.
After an hour of sitting in the lobby people-watching, I went back upstairs, Sam trailing behind me. I used my key to open the door and started walking in.
After taking two steps, Mr. Merlin screamed at me not to move another inch, but it was too late. I had stepped through some kind of portal and found myself in some kind of forest, and I was wearing a muddy dress that was very poorly made.
"Chris? Sam?" I yelled, but nobody called back. I was trapped here.
After what seemed like an eternity of picking grass in the shade of a tree, I heard voices. I immediately looked up, hoping to see my brother, but he wasn't there.
I saw two ladies wearing extremely elegant dresses riding along on horseback. Their conversation ended when they saw me. One gasped.
"How did you get here?" The lady in the pink dressed asked, sounding almost disgusted. "This is the king's land. No trespassers are allowed."
"I'm so sorry. I, uh, seem to have bumped my head. Can you tell me what the date is? And where are we?" I asked, trying to sound weak.
"You are in the country of England, my dear girl. It is the year 806. You must have had some fall to have forgotten all that!" The lady in the blue dress replied, seeming much kinder than Pink.
"I think I must have gotten lost, and I don't know how to get home. I'm not even sure where home is." I rubbed my head for dramatic effect. I knew I had time traveled and now was just trying to buy time until Chris or Mr. Merlin found me. I just hoped they would.
"Oh, my dear girl, you must come back with us to the king's castle. We shall find you some more decent clothing to fit yourself in." Miss Blue said.
I rode on the back of Miss Blue's horse. Before we came anywhere near the castle, I could see it. The castle itself was huge, but there were fields of green surrounding for miles around. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.
Inside the castle, it was just as magnificent. Miss Blue took me up a large set of stairs while Miss Pink left, ranting on about bringing in filthy peasants.
The room Miss Blue took me into was huge. It was bigger than the hotel room we were staying in, and that was meant for four people. I'm pretty sure this room was meant for one person.
"This is my room. If you end up staying, you will get your own room, but for now you may rest here. I will help you get washed up and dressed, and then we will speak with the king to see what he wants done with you."
"Why would the king want to meet me? I'm just a peasant."
She laughed. "The king is always looking for young, how shall I say, toys."
I didn't get it at first, but when I did, I was scared. I realized that they didn't have the same kind of laws here that we have in my time period. I really hoped that the boys would find me soon.
After I got washed up and dressed and prettied up, I asked Miss Blue if I could get some air outside. I accounted it for the nervousness of meeting the king, but I was really going to make a break for it.
I ran and I ran, but the forest seemed to go on forever. I wasn't sure exactly how much land the king owned, but I feared there was no town anywhere near here that I could hide in.
After running for what seemed like hours, I heard hooves pounding on the ground behind me. I found a large tree and hid behind it, hoping they wouldn't see me. I was found, and taken back to the castle.
Back in the castle, I never saw the king, but was told that he didn't want to see me and I was to be locked up in a tower. Apparently I wasn't bad enough to get sent to the dungeon.
They locked the door behind me and I was trapped. The room I was in was tiny, about a third the size of the motel room. It had a small window that looked out on the gardens. I thought that might be the only pretty thing I'd ever see again in my life. There was a small raggedy bed that looked extremely uncomfortable, but it beat sleeping on the floor, and I dove into sleep almost immediately.
